19세기 미션스테이션의 근대성과 기념의 문제 －전주스테이션의 사례를 중심으로－

Abstract

Mission station is the mission base which was built by the 19th century western missionaries for the Christian missionary work. The Mission station is composed in the form of the triangle method,missionary work－medical service－education. This station approach is based on the Nevius plan and is an indirect mission approach unlike the direct approach of the Catholic missionaries. This station approach had important meaning of determining the history of Korean Churches. American missionaries built schools and hospitals using the station approach. Then the mission station played decisive role for the modernization of Korea after the 19th century. Through schools, education for the women and education on the democracy were done and use of Hangul(Korean Alphabet) was promoted and through the medical business, the people were awakened to the concept of the science and humanitarianism of regardless of one’s status. In addition, through the church which is at the apex of the triangle method, superstitious religions were overthrown and status order was destroyed and the message of puritanic sincerity and diligence was delivered. Of course, during the colonialization process and the independence movement, missionaries and the nationalism suffered tension and conflicts but ultimately early period missionary’s station contributed to the modernization of Korea. Jeonju Station, which is an example case of this research, is one of the cases which shows the ways of typical station approach. Jesus Hospital, Shinheung School－Kijeon School,Seomoon Church and graves of the missionaries at the missionaries residence sites in Jeonju shows typical aspects of the station approach. In fact, the station played an important role in the modernization of Jeonju region as well. The Jesus Hospital improved the local residents health with the implementation of scientific medical services and the Shinheung School has turned out many excellent students as an ethnic school. The Seomoon Church also largely contributed to the popularization of Hangul through translating the bible to the Korean language. As of today, Korean church marks the 120 years of mission history. The station which has been the base for the Korean church for the past 100 years has lost its original forms and its traces are becomes extinguished as well. It is necessary to commemorate and preserve the station in both spiritual and physical way. The commemoration and preservation has more meaning than just preserving the cultural asset,it is very important as to helping the Korean church which is suffering from identity crisis in finding back it’s calling of the times.